Letter: Lawmakers nix EPA dust rules

Tuesday

Dec 27, 2011 at 12:01 AM

Lawmakers nix EPA dust rules

The Lubbock Chamber of Commerce, the South Plains' largest business federation representing the diverse interests of more than 2,100 members and their over 72,000 employees, thanks area Congressmen Randy Neugebauer, Michael Conaway and Mac Thornberry for voting in favor of H.R. 1633, the "Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011" on Dec. 8. This legislation prevents the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from regulating dust in rural America while still maintaining the protections of the Clean Air Act. H.R 1633 also prohibits revision of the current dust standard for one year from date of enactment and provides flexibility for states and localities to regulate "nuisance dust."

The Chamber supports lawful, sensible and balanced environmental regulations, guidance and policies to protect the environment and public health, to promote economic growth and innovation, and to create jobs. Regulatory certainty is required to accomplish these things.

Therefore, although we welcomed EPA's Oct.14 announcement that it did not plan to regulate farm dust, it is noted that in 2006 EPA proposed to exempt agriculture dust in a proposed rule but the exemption was removed from the final rule. Further, the Clean Air Act requires EPA to revisit standards every five years, providing the agency with ample opportunity to impose new regulations should it be inclined to do so. Consequently, we believe the "Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act" should be enacted to create regulatory certainty.

We urge passage of a similar measure in the U.S. Senate.

EDDIE MCBRIDE, president, Lubbock

Chamber of Commerce/Lubbock

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